The Orioles won't play a game today, but they've got a lot of roster maneuvering to consider before the Phillies come to town. Joey Rickard was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before Sunday's game to give the Orioles another right-handed bat against Rays southpaw Blake Snell, who's murder on left-handed hitters. And to finally let Anthony Santander, shed of his Rule 5 status, continue his development in the minors. Losing the switch-hitting Santander for Rickard causes the Orioles to tilt...

From a personal standpoint, Manny Machado is riding the highest professional wave right now. He's red-hot at the plate with a 10-game hitting streak and three multi-home run games this season. He's hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. Machado has posted a .410 average (16-for-39) during his streak with five home runs, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored. According to STATS, Machado is tied for sixth all-time in multi-homer games by a right-handed hitter 25 years old or younger. Jimmie Foxx, Bob...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter sometimes says "There was a game to be won there" after an Oriole loss, and that statement was certainly true last night. Yes the game got away in the top of the ninth, but if the Orioles offense had gotten something going before that, we would not have seen Nestor Cortes Jr. try to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Some could second-guess the skipper for even bringing him into a situation down 2-1 in the ninth, but I get back to the offense. The...

It's been a busy transactional day for the Orioles before they open a three-game series in Houston. Already making two earlier moves involving outfielder Michael Saunders and pitcher Stefan Crichton, the Orioles announced early this evening that they acquired left-hander Luis Ysla from the Dodgers for pitcher Jesus Liranzo and assigned him to Double-A Bowie. Ysla, 25, went a combined 1-5 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 36 relief appearances at Double-A Portland and Tulsa. He walked 39 batters...

With previous interest in Michael Saunders carrying over to spring training, the Orioles finally landed the veteran outfielder today by reaching agreement on a minor league contract. Saunders, 31, will report to Triple-A Norfolk. He can earn $1.5 million guaranteed if he reaches the majors. The Orioles negotiated with Saunders' agent at the 2016 Winter Meetings and kept him on their board this spring while searching for another left-handed hitting outfielder. They already traded for Jaycob...

It can be easy to feel that time is running out on the Orioles to add an outfielder now that the calender has flipped to 2017. But while there is still plenty of time to make an addition or two, several outfielders have come of the board. When the free agent season began, the Orioles were certainly unlikely to pursue the bigger dollar options and apparently were indeed not in the hunt for Yoenis Cespedes, Dexter Fowler or Ian Desmond. Other outfielders that have signed for 2017:* Josh Reddick...

Another outfielder is off the board while the Orioles try to figure out who's playing right for them on opening day. The Athletics signed Rajai Davis to a one-year deal last night worth a reported $6 million guaranteed. He's no longer an option for the Orioles, who are intrigued by him every winter without reaching an agreement. The Orioles would prefer a left-handed hitter, so Davis wasn't an ideal fit. He's also 36 and owns a career .314 on-base percentage. He's posted an OBP of .306 in...

If the Orioles found an outfielder under their tree yesterday, they are not saying so yet. That must have been a pretty big tree, however. As the end of the calender year approaches, the Orioles' search for an outfielder is ongoing. If said player has some speed, a good on-base percentage and plays solid defense, that would be quite welcome in a lineup that needs the first two and an outfield defense that needs the third. Here are four players that have been linked to the Orioles. These are...

'Tis the season to be jolly and repetitive. I'm referring, of course, to the hot stove season. Let's gather around it, warm our hands and hearts, and toast our good fortune. A marshmallow on a skewer wouldn't be a bad idea, either. My mailbag is the gift that keeps on giving. Sort of like the Samos burps after the tzatziki and hummus. And I'm not complaining. Fans ask for updates and opinions. Other fans ask for the same updates and opinions. Some are friendlier than others. The fans, not...

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - We won't get fooled again. Not that it's going to surprise anyone who's been paying close attention, but the Orioles don't expect to solve their right field riddle by plugging in free agent Dexter Fowler. Fowler is drawing serious interest from multiple teams, including the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Giants, and should easily hurdle the three-year, $33 million offer laid out by the Orioles in spring training. An offer they felt had gotten them Fowler before he reversed...

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Orioles have a hole in right field and filling it is one of their primary goals at this week's Winter Meetings at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Could Michael Saunders be the solution? The club has definite interest in Saunders, 30, who is a statistical mixed bag. He fits their profile as a versatile outfielder capable of playing all three spots who hits from the left side and could move atop the order. It also might be wise to get him on their...

With the Orioles in the market for at least one corner outfielder, let's look at a few free agents the team could pursue. There is also the trade market, but there is no way to know which players are available through that avenue. Dexter Fowler: After the deal that turned out not to be a deal last winter and the hard feelings that resulted, you have to wonder if the Orioles would even travel down this road again. But putting that aside for a moment, Fowler seems a perfect fit in several...